2019 Storywise 10-Week TV Teleseminar – SPECIAL OFFERS
2019-03-06 00:00 UTC
STORYWISE 10-week TV WRITING TELESEMINAR AND TRAINING SERIES
Classes begin on Tuesday March 5th at 7:00 pm ONLINE and go through May 14, 2019
Want to learn all of the things that I teach in Writers on the Verge at NBC? Check out my Storywise 10-Week Teleseminar that includes an eight-module story instruction training series called, “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: Moving Forward.”
This is a 10-week program designed to help you write a high-quality TV pilot AND spec script. In 10-weeks, I will teach you how to learn to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more.
Last year we had over 100 writer participants from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a very valuable resource. You all will have a chance to learn from one another via networking, to exchange scripts and possibly starting your own writer groups.
I’ve seen the success from this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this 10-week course have gone on to sell pilots, get staffed on TV shows and get into several of the prestigious writing programs. Fifty-Two of my writers have sold pilots… and 6 of them have gone to series.
The story instruction is pre-recorded. You will receive this before the course begins in March.
In March, each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the 4 writers participating at Level #3. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your own notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, I will give five people the opportunity to sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others pitch. This part of the program was designed to help you learn from the pitching style of others as well as give you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have an opportunity to sign up for this.

I currently have a SPECIAL OFFER going for the month of January for levels 1, 2, and 4.
Here is the LINK for the 4 FREE Training Videos.
LEVEL 1
At Level 1, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec or TV pilot script. You will receive written feedback. You have up to a year after the course is finished to turn this in.
Regular rate – $397.00
SPECIAL OFFER – $297.00 (LIMITED TIME OFFER)

Rate for writers who have taken this before – $227.00

LEVEL 2
At Level 2, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV spec and/or TV Pilot script.
Level 2 w/ TV Pilot Consult
Regular Rate – $1,050.00
Special Rate – $947.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $927.00

LEVEL 3
At Level 3, you will receive feedback every week on your TV spec or TV pilot script. This includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
For the first time, I am going to offer you the option of not writing a TV spec. You can either write one TV pilot during the 10 weeks or, you can write two TV pilots during the ten weeks. There will also be an option to do it for five weeks instead of ten weeks. This will be offered to the finalists.
There are only FOUR SLOTS for this level: two for drama and two for comedy. This could change depending on the strength of the submissions. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit ten pages of a script. The submission deadline is 1/31/19. I will select four submissions out of all of the submissions and announce these slots in February. The rate for Level 3 is $3,000.00.
ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR LEVEL 3 STARTING JANUARY 1 – 31, 2019. I will announce in mid-February. Please email your 10 page submissions to me at jen@jengrisanti.com

LEVEL 4
At Level 4, you will receive written/verbal notes back every week on your scripts. This includes 5 Coaching Consults either alongside the teleseminar or as you prefer. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch two times to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
There are only 4 slots available at this level.
Regular Rate – $3,647.00
Special Rate – $3,347.00

ASSIGNMENTS
Level #3 writing assignments will be due the Saturday before each class. Everyone at each level will receive a copy of the assignments turned in by the Level #3 writers so that they may follow along as well as provide notes directly to the Level#3 writer.

Levels #1 and #2, you will do the assignments on your own. No direct feedback is provided for Level 1. Level 2 gets feedback during the pilot consult. I do highly recommend that you use the Facebook community of writers to exchange scripts so that you can receive weekly feedback.

GUEST SPEAKERS
MICHAEL NARDUCCI (The Crossing, The Originals, Vampire Diaries…)
GRETA HEINEMANN (NCIS: New Orleans)
PAUL RUEHL (sold 15 pilots)
DAN O’SHANNON (Superior Donuts, Odd Couple, Modern Family…)
MONICA BREEN (Midnight Texas, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Revolution…)
TED HUMPHREY (Wisdom of the Crowd, Incorporated, The Good Wife…)
WES NICKERSON (House of Lies, Entourage)
MATT NIX (The Gifted, Burn Notice, APB…)
HENRY ALONSO MYERS (The Magicians, Covert Affairs, The Carrie Diaries…)
MARK GOFFMAN (Bull, Limitless, Sleepy Hollow…)
WENDY WEST (Proven Innocence, Marvel’s Inhuman, Taken)
NIKKI TOSCANO (24:LEGACY, State of Affairs, Shades of Blue)

FINAL DRAFT PODCAST INTERVIEW – REFOCUSING YOUR ENERGY FOR NEXT SEASON’S SCREENWRITING CONTESTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2019-06-30 00:00 UTC
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Fri, 14 December 2018
Write On with Jen Grisanti: Refocusing Your Energy for Next Season’s Screenwriting Contests and Fellowships

Screenwriting consultant and former studio executive Jen Grisanti discusses crafting stories that resonate, finding your voice as a writer and building a network of professional relationships.
With experience as a story consultant, TV staffer, and mentor in the CBS Diversity program, Jen Grisanti is dedicated to helping writers make it as working film & TV professionals through the Jen Grisanti Consultancy.
Learn more about her new 10-week STORYWISE TV Writing Tele-seminar and training series HERE.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write On Podcast on iTunes!

Direct download: GrisantiIntroOutro_1.m4a
Category:screenwriting — posted at: 10:30am PST

STORYWISE TV SEMINAR ON THE EAST COAST
2019-09-23 00:00 UTC
HOW TO WRITE A TV PILOT THAT SELLS w/Jen Grisanti
Hosted by Nicole Couloute
Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Description
Are you an aspiring TV writer, director, actor, or exec? Learn how to break into the industry and better your TV pilot writing skills. NBC executive, Jen Grisanti, will explain how to write a compelling pilot and the process to start a career in the television industry. Nicole Couloute hosts this event.

Registration begins promptly at 9 am and ends at 9:50 am. You must present your ID at check-in, so make sure to bring appropriate documentation.

Please note that space is limited, so be sure to purchase your ticket sooner rather than later.

Send a request to the Nicole Couloute TV Writing Events Facebook group after the purchase of a ticket. This action will allow you to stay up to date on the event and keep in touch with other attendees.

The workshop has three sections:

Jen will give a seminar – “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells
There will be a pitch panel
There will be a networking session to collaborate with other attendees.

Plan to stay beyond 2 pm if you can, but it is not required. To pitch, you must have purchased a pitching ticket. Please contact Nicole to get a pitching ticket. Due to the limited time of the pitching session, there will only be a handful of pitches. Pitching ticket includes all benefits of general admission. General admission attendees can listen to other’s pitches and learn for their future pitches.

Space is limited, so be sure to get your ticket early.
If you or your company is interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Nicole at ncouloute1@gmail.com.
Address of the event will be given to all ticket holders by the end of July. The event will be within 30 minutes of Bradley Airport.

Why Jen?
Writing the TV pilot is one of the most challenging scripts to write and to write well. Jen has helped in the development of thousands of scripts over the past 20 years. She was a Studio Executive at two significant studios for 12 years. She is currently a Writing Instructor at NBC and has been a Story/Career Consultant for ten years.

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN WRITING YOUR TV PILOT

Does my series trigger incident push my central character into a powerful enough dilemma to set up season one?
Is there a personal component that sets up the personal dilemma of my central character?
Does my central character actively make a choice in the pilot trigger and dilemma that leads to a pursuit?
Is my pilot goal clear?
How do I set up the series?

Trigger & Dilemma
With your series trigger and dilemma, you want to think about something that happens to your central character
that knocks their life out of balance. At this point in the story, your central character is often reactive versus active.
The dilemma should make us feel empathy for your character.
Personal Component
With the personal component, you are setting up the personal dilemma of your central character that leads to the
professional pursuit. This sets up the void. The pursuit is one step towards filling this void. With the personal part,
you want to think about the arc of the wound. The best pilots have a childhood wound that the series trigger and
dilemma splits open. The personal component in your story is the emotional part of your story.
Central Character
With the pilot arc, your central character goes from being reactive to active. With the setup of the series arc, they react to what happens to them. Then, they make an active choice that leads to the structure of the pilot arc. In the pilot arc, we should be clear about what your central character wants and why they want it by the end of Act One.
Pilot Goal
If the pilot goal is not clear, the story doesn’t work. In each act, the central character should take action, hit an obstacle, and the stakes should escalate to the pilot goal. If the goal is not clear, you cannot link these points. We should feel what your character wants and what is in the way for every scene.
Series Set-Up
After the resolution of the pilot arc, you need to set up the series. When I see this done well, it bookends what happened in the series trigger and dilemma setup and helps to build the next level of the concept. The point of this is to make your audience so enthralled that they can’t wait to see what happens next.

Mastering a story by utilizing the right tools is what will lead you to a sale.

You will learn about these techniques in this class.

Jen Grisanti’s Bio:

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 900 writers specializing in television, features, and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows, and 60 have sold pilots, five that that went to series. Also, she is an instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge.
Grisanti has taught classes for the “Change Your Story, Change Your Life” Writing/Yoga Retreat with Alta Retreats in Nicaragua, Rocaberti Writing Retreat in Spain, the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, TV Writers Summit (in LA, London and Israel), The TV Writers Studio (in Australia), Story Expo, The Big Island Film Festival, Chicago Screenwriters Network, Scriptwriters Network , Screenwriting Expo, the Great American Pitchfest, the Writers Store, the Northwestern Screenwriter’s Guild in Seattle, and the Alameda’s Writer’s Group. Also, she has served on panels for the WGA, iTVFest, UFVA, PGA, and The Writer’s Bootcamp, telling her story to inspire others.

SCREENWRITER GATHERING on November 1st at Cantina Frida in Beverly Hills from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
2019-11-02 00:00 UTC
In place of Friday Night Social in November (our location was not available), Lee Jessup and I are going to have a casual gathering for screenwriters on Friday, November 1st at Cantina Frida at 252 N Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills at 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Come out and make some new relationships. All are welcome. #screenwriting #connecting #relationships#story #amwriting

PODCAST INTERVIEW – HOW TO TELL YOUR INTERNAL STORY
2019-12-31 00:00 UTC
BPS 021: How to Tell Your Internal Story with Jen Grisanti
By Alex Ferrari | August 1, 2018

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How to Tell Your Internal Story with Jen Grisanti
Today on the show we have Hollywood Story/Career Consultant and former Studio Executive Jen Grisanti. Grisanti is also a Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former studio executive, a blogger for The Huffington Post and author of Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells, and her recent book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life.
Over twenty years ago, Jen Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years. She quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.

In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her years of experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers.
Since launching her consulting firm, Jen Grisanti worked with over 1000 writers specializing in television, features, and novels. Due to her guidance, over ninety of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows, fifty-three have sold pilots, and six of those pilots have gone to series.
Enjoy my conversation with Jen Grisanti.
Right-click here to download the MP3 (Transcription below)
Download on iTunes Direct
Watch on IFH YouTube Channel

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Jen Grisanti – Official Site
Jen Grisanti – Facebook
Jen Grisanti – Twitter
Jen Grisanti – YouTube

2020 STORYWISE SIX-WEEK TV PILOT TELESEMINAR AND DIGITAL COURSE
2020-03-25 00:00 UTC
STORYWISE 6-Week TV WRITING TELESEMINAR AND TRAINING SERIES
My Eleventh Annual Storywise Teleseminar starts on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, and goes through March 24, 2020. This seminar is a live and interactive event that includes story instruction, pitching, and an opportunity to get feedback from working TV writers.
Want to know 5 Steps it takes to set up a series with your TV pilot? The prelude to the Storywise Teleseminar is my story instruction modules (all new) that are in a digital course.

#screenwriting#writing #amwriting #storytips #story #tvwriting

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

Classes begin on Tuesday, February 18th at 7:00 pm PST ONLINE and go through March 24, 2020
Want to learn all of the things that I teach in Writers on the Verge at NBC? Check out my Storywise 6-Week Teleseminar that includes an eight-module story instruction training series called, “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: Creating The Series.” In this digital product, I will go into all aspects of how you set up a successful TV series. This digital product is new. There will be all-new breakdowns. I will launch it in November or December of 2019.
This teleseminar and digital product is a 6-week program designed to help you write a high-quality TV pilot 6-weeks, I will teach you how to learn to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more.
Last year we had over 100 writer participants from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a precious resource. You all will have a chance to learn from one another via networking, to exchange scripts and possibly starting your writer groups.
I’ve seen the success of this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this course have gone on to sell pilots, get staffed on TV shows and get into several of the prestigious writing programs. Sixty-Two pilots sold from the writers that I’ve worked with and six of them went to series.
I will pre-record the story instruction. The story instruction will launch in January. The digital course is titled “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: 5 Steps To Creating the Series.”
In February, each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the four writers participating at Level 3. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This process is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, I will allow five people to sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others pitch. This part of the program was designed to help you learn from the pitching style of others as well as allow you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have a chance to sign up for this.
You will be able to purchase spots once I launch the digital product in November or December of 2019.

LEVEL 1
At Level 1, you get to participate in all six classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec or TV pilot script. You will receive written feedback. You have up to a year after the course is finished to turn this in.
Regular rate – $397.00

The rate for writers who have taken this before – $197.00

LEVEL 2
At Level 2, you get to participate in all six classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV spec and or your TV Pilot script.
Level 2 w/ TV Pilot Consult
Regular Rate – $1,050.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $827.00

LEVEL 3
At Level 3, you will receive feedback every week on your TV pilot script or TV spec script. This level includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
I am going to offer you the option of not writing a TV spec. You can use the full six weeks to write your TV pilot.
There are only FOUR SLOTS for this level: two for drama and two for comedy. This breakdown could change depending on the strength of the submissions. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit ten pages of a script. The submission deadline is 1/31/20. I will select four submissions out of all of the entries and announce these slots at the beginning of February. The rate for Level 3 is $2,500.00.
With Level 3, you will also receive a one on one consult after the Storywise Teleseminar.
Here are the four writers that I selected for Level 3:
Chryss Terry/Drama
Suzanne Griffin/Drama
Richard Snyder/Comedy
Bri Morris/Comedy

LEVEL 4
At Level 4, you will receive written/verbal notes back every week on your scripts. This level includes 5 Coaching Consults either alongside the teleseminar or as you prefer. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch two times to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
There are only four slots available at this level.
Regular Rate – $3,647.00
Special Rate – $3,347.00

ASSIGNMENTS
Level #3 writing assignments will be due the Saturday before each class. Everyone at each level will receive a copy of the assignments turned in by the Level #3 writers so that they may follow along as well as provide notes directly to the Level#3 writer.

Levels #1 and #2, you will do the assignments on your own. Level 1 does not receive any direct feedback. Level 2 gets feedback during the pilot consult. I do highly recommend that all levels use the Facebook community of writers to exchange scripts so that you can receive weekly feedback.

GUEST SPEAKERS
They will listen to 5 pitches per work. All participants are eligible to pitch. I will announce the guest speaker at the end of each class. For the first one, I will send out an email a week before class begins. You will have a limited time from the time that I announce them to sign up. Level 3 does get priority.

WEEK 1 – GUEST SPEAKER – FEBRUARY 18TH
MICHAEL NARDUCCI – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(OVERALL DEAL at ABC, THE CROSSING, THE ORIGINALS, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, MEDIUM, THE 4400)

WEEK 2 – GUEST SPEAKER – FEBRUARY 25th
CARLA KETTNER – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(THE BLACKLIST, ZOO, THE MOB DOCTOR, BONES, VANISHED, STRONG MEDICINE, KILLER INSTINCT)

WEEK 3 – GUEST SPEAKER – MARCH 3RD
AARON RAHSAAN THOMAS – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(S.W.A.T., SLEEPY HOLLOW, SOUTHLAND, CSI:NY, NUMBERS, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS)

WEEK 4 – GUEST SPEAKER – MARCH 10TH
MATT NIX – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(OVERALL AT FOX, THE GIFTED, APB, BONES, COMPLICATIONS, THE COMEDIANS, BURN NOTICE, THE GOOD GUYS)

WEEK 5 – GUEST SPEAKER – MARCH 17th
DAN O’SHANNON – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(MODERN FAMILY, SUPERIOR DONUTS, THE ODD COUPLE, BETTER OFF TED, BACK TO YOU, JERICHO, THRESHOLD, FRASIER, KING OF QUEENS)

WEEK 6 – GUEST SPEAKER
DAVID HUDGINS – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(GAME OF SILENCE, PARENTHOOD, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, PAST LIFE, EVERWOOD)

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CENTRAL CHARACTER AS IT APPLIES TO ACTS
2020-06-30 00:00 UTC

Rocaberti Writers’ Retreat In France – July 3 – July 8, 2020
2020-07-10 00:00 UTC
Early July 2020
July 3rd-8th, 2020
Marouatte Castle,
The Dordogne,
France
Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 14th century Marouatte Castle in the Dordogne, Southwestern France, we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!
Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Mentors

Jen Grisanti
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.
Jen currently has 2 spots left for the early July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with Jen

Joan Lane
Joan Lane is a film and theatre producer and has worked in arts management and production for over 30 years. Trained as a Speech and Language Therapist, with a background as a music scholar, she has also worked as a vocal consultant.
Her company, Wild Thyme Productions, has toured six innovative productions of Shakespeare’s plays in the UK and Germany and mounted world premiere showcases and readings of new plays and musicals in London. She is a member of Musical Theatre Network UK, concerned with the writing of new musicals, and also of The British Shakespeare Association.
Primarily engaged as a Consultant by the BBC, Joan’s skills were used for the recording, filming and Royal Opera House performance of THE LITTLE PRINCE. She was a director for BBC Radio Two and BBC Television’s New Talent UK-wide search for the Voice of Musical Theatre, involved with background music for the film THE ACTORS, coordinated the participation of singing Angels for Stephen Fry’s directorial film debut, BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS and worked on the BBC’s Promenade Concert/Opera, THE WATER DIVINER’S TALE.
As well as touring with her own company, Joan has worked on several plays at the Royal National Theatre and toured plays with ATG and Pleasance Theatre. She recommends scripts to Russian translator colleagues and two plays were produced in Russia recently.
Her varied work in music, theatre, film and television exposed Joan to scripts and screenplays and she is known for having developed the film, THE KING’S SPEECH, directed by Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, and adapted from the stage play by its author David Seidler.
More recently, she has developed a screenplay from a radio play and has been commissioned to write a screenplay based on a true story. Currently, four TV series on which Joan has worked with first-time writers are under consideration and three films are expected to go into production in 2018.

Stan Zimmerman
Stan Zimmerman’s long career covers multiple mediums (TV, film and theatre) and he’s won many LA directing awards, including one from BroadwayWorld.com. In addition, he’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Episodic writing for his work on the classic TV series, THE GOLDEN GIRLS and ROSEANNE.
Stan’s also written and produced on GILMORE GIRLS and co-created the Lifetime sitcom, RITA ROCKS. He was Director/Writer/EP/Creator on the Emmy-nominated web series, SECS & EXECS, on Tellofilms. In film, he wrote both BRADY BUNCH movies.
He has been busy lately writing, directing and producing theatre in Los Angeles. Some of Stan’s critically-acclaimed productions include: the LatinX The Diary of Anne Frank, Heartbreak Help, Pledge, Warm Cheese, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, BLINK & You Might Miss Me, Spike Heels, A Tuna Christmas and Gemini. He also directed two of the plays he wrote with Christian McLaughlin: Yes Virginia, Knife to the Heart and Meet & Greet.
Stan has appeared on Broadway with Nureyev & the Joffrey Ballet at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and was the Host/Showrunner on Sean Hayes’ Bravo reality show, SITUATION: COMEDY. Stan also teaches audition technique classes in LA and NYC. He has a BFA-Drama NYU/Circle-in-the-Square.
Stan currently has 2 spots left for the early July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with Stan

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS
EXPERT TUITION
ALL MEALS AND DRINKS
FIVE NIGHTS’ LODGING
ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
PROGRAM
Please reserve my place, and the mentor my choice, now

Rocaberti Writers’ Retreat in France – July 10th – 15th, 2020
2020-07-16 00:00 UTC
Late July 2020
July 10th-15th, 2020
Marouatte Castle,
The Dordogne,
France
Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 14th century Marouatte Castle in the Dordogne, Southwestern France, we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!
Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Mentors

Jen Grisanti
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.
Jen currently has 2 spots left for the late July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with Jen

Richard Botto
Richard “RB” Botto is the Founder and CEO of Stage 32, the official film education & networking platform of AFM and the Marche du Film at Cannes Film Festival. Stage32.com is the world’s largest online platform connecting and educating film, TV & digital creatives and executives worldwide. Since 2011, Stage 32 has emerged as an online community of over 500,000 creatives with over 1,000 hours of online education taught by over 500 industry executives.
RB is also a working actor, producer and screenwriter. As a producer, his films have played at dozens of festivals including the Sundance award winning feature, Another Happy Day, written & directed by Sam Levinson (starring Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Ellen Barkin), the documentary Crutch, the feature What Lies Ahead (starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumon) releasing in 2019 and the upcoming Rain- Beau’s End (starring Ed Asner, Sean Young and Kate Arrington). As a writer, his latest screenplay, The End Game, is currently set up at Covert Media. As an actor, his latest film On the Corner of Ego and Desire premiered at the 2018 Raindance Film Festvial.
Botto is a best-selling author with his book Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers, published by Routledge Press under the American Film Market Presents banner. The book can be found at the Routledge Press booth by AFM badge registration and on Amazon, where it has over 50 5-star reviews.
A sought-after speaker and mentor, RB has been a keynote speaker and panelist at such festivals and conferences as Cannes, AFM, Tribeca, Sundance, Raindance, SXSW, Portugal FEST and Winston Baker. He has also taught at institutions such as Harvard and Columbia University on the subjects of filmmaking, producing, film finance, screenwriting, social media, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, entrepreneurship and business.
RB currently has 3 spots left for the late July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with RB

Stan Zimmerman
Stan Zimmerman’s long career covers multiple mediums (TV, film and theatre) and he’s won many LA directing awards, including one from BroadwayWorld.com. In addition, he’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Episodic writing for his work on the classic TV series, THE GOLDEN GIRLS and ROSEANNE.
Stan’s also written and produced on GILMORE GIRLS and co-created the Lifetime sitcom, RITA ROCKS. He was Director/Writer/EP/Creator on the Emmy-nominated web series, SECS & EXECS, on Tellofilms. In film, he wrote both BRADY BUNCH movies.
He has been busy lately writing, directing and producing theatre in Los Angeles. Some of Stan’s critically-acclaimed productions include: the LatinX The Diary of Anne Frank, Heartbreak Help, Pledge, Warm Cheese, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, BLINK & You Might Miss Me, Spike Heels, A Tuna Christmas and Gemini. He also directed two of the plays he wrote with Christian McLaughlin: Yes Virginia, Knife to the Heart and Meet & Greet.
Stan has appeared on Broadway with Nureyev & the Joffrey Ballet at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and was the Host/Showrunner on Sean Hayes’ Bravo reality show, SITUATION: COMEDY. Stan also teaches audition technique classes in LA and NYC. He has a BFA-Drama NYU/Circle-in-the-Square.

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS
EXPERT TUITION
ALL MEALS AND DRINKS
FIVE NIGHTS’ LODGING
ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
PROGRAM
Please reserve my place, and the mentor my choice, now

FICTIONALIZING YOUR TRUTH IN YOUR WRITING – ONLINE CLASS ON 9/26/20
2020-09-29 00:00 UTC
FICTIONALIZING YOUR TRUTH IN YOUR WRITING
When you come from a place of emotional truth in your writing and add fiction to it in your story, you connect with your audience. I will go through how to take inventory of your history and identify your universal life moments by looking at your dilemmas, your failures, and your successes. After taking the time to mine your creative well, you will find your gold.
FINDING YOUR VOICE
This presentation goes into TV and film. By understanding how to find and utilize your voice, you will learn what it takes to set you apart from the masses. By defining what makes your story unique, you will learn how to draw from this emotional truth leading you to your desired outcome.
SCRIPT WRITING | THE FEATURE SCRIPT
Learn some of the secrets to telling strong stories from the studio executive perspective. In this presentation, I will go over the seven components that will make your feature script sell.
If you are interested in taking you writing to the next level you will NOT want to miss this. RSVP today!
**This event is being supported in part by Arizona Commission on the Arts which receives support from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts

About Jen Grisanti:
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc. Grisanti is also a Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, and author of Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells, and, Change Your Story, Change Your Life.
Over twenty years ago, Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years. She quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount, where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400, and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her years of experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching her consulting firm, Grisanti worked with over 1000 writers specializing in television, features, and novels. Due to her guidance, over one hundred of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows, seventy-one have sold pilots, and six of those pilots have gone to series.

SIGN UP HERE – $39.00

STORY PRODUCT PROMOS – 5 STEPS TO CREATING THE SERIES AND MOVING FORWARD
2021-01-31 00:00 UTC
https://www.jengrisanti.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/StoryProductPromoGMT20200831-215445_My-Meeting_avo_640x360-1.mp4

2021 STORYWISE 6-WEEK TV PILOT WRITING TELESEMINAR AND STORY MODULES – FINDING STORY
2021-03-24 00:00 UTC
2021 STORYWISE 6-WEEK TV PILOT WRITING TELESEMINAR AND STORY MODULES – FINDING STORY
My Twelfth Annual Storywise Teleseminar starts on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, and goes through March 23, 2021. This seminar is a live and interactive event that includes story instruction, pitching, and an opportunity to get feedback from top working TV writers.

Classes begin on Tuesday, February 16 at 7:00 pm PST ONLINE and go through March 23, 2021
Want to learn all of the things that I teach in Writers on the Verge at NBC? Check out my Storywise 6-Week Teleseminar that includes an eight-module story instruction training series called “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: Finding Story.” I will go into how you find the story in this digital product when writing the TV pilot. I give full breakdowns for nine shows. We will take a deep dive into several story tools that could lead you to a sale.
I designed the story modules for “Finding Story” and the 6-week program to help you write a compelling TV pilot in six weeks. I will teach you how to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more. To date, eighty-five pilots sold from writers that took part in this experience and my one on one consults.
Last year we had over 150 writers from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a precious resource. In it, you can exchange scripts, find accountability partners, and form writer groups.
I’ve seen the success of this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this course have gone on to sell pilots, get staffed on TV shows, and get into several prestigious writing programs. Eighty-seven pilots sold from the writers that I’ve worked with and six of them went to series.
I will pre-record the story instruction. The story instruction will launch in January. The digital course is titled “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: Finding Story.”
In February, each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the four writers participating at Level 3. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This process is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, I will allow five people to sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others’ pitch. This part of the program will help you learn from others’ pitching style and allow you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have a chance to sign up for this.

ALUMNI RATES – If you are an alumni, press HERE for rates.

LEVEL 1
RATE – $497.00
At Level 1, you get to participate in all six classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec or TV pilot script. You will receive written feedback. You have up to a year after the course ends to turn this in.

LEVEL 2
RATE – $1,247.00
At Level 2, you get to participate in all six classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV Pilot script.
Level 2 w/ TV Pilot Consult

Level 2+ w/ TV Pilot Consult and TV Spec Consult
RATE – $1,772.00
At Level 2, you get to participate in all six classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV Pilot script.
Level 2+ w/ TV Pilot Consult and TV Spec Consult

LEVEL 3 – 4 SLOTS (Submission only)
At Level 3, you will get feedback during all six classes. Assignments are due the Saturday before the class. This level includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
I am going to offer you the option of not writing a TV spec. You can use the full six weeks to write your TV pilot.
There are only FOUR SLOTS for this level: three for drama and one for comedy. This breakdown could change depending on the strength of the submissions. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit ten pages of a script. I am not looking for the first ten pages of the pilot you will write during the program. I want the first ten pages for a pilot that you already completed.
The rate for this level is $2,700.00. If you are interested, please email your 10 pages in PDF to me at jen@jengrisanti.com.
LEVEL 3 WRITERS

Lisa Steadman/Comedy
Shannon Amborn/Drama
Tatiana Blackington/Drama
Alain Legend Raymond/Drama

LEVEL 4 – SOLD OUT

ALUMNI – The SPECIAL OFFER rate applies to you through 2/16.

GUEST SPEAKERS FOR 2021 STORYWISE 6-WEEK TV PILOT TELESEMINAR

DAN O’SHANNON

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Dan O’Shannon is an American television writer and producer who has worked on shows such as Newhart, Cheers, and Frasier. He was an ABC show Modern Family executive producer but left the show after season five to accept a development deal at CBS TV Studios. He grew up in Euclid and Painesville, Ohio, graduating from Riverside High School in Painesville Township.

ZOANNE CLACK

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Zoanne Clack, also known as Zoanne Arnette, is an American television producer, writer, story editor, actress, and medical doctor/consultant. Clack’s most notable work has been on the medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy. She has also served as an extra for the show. Her other work includes medical supervisor on ER, writer on Presidio Med, and minor acting roles in The District and Philly.

BRIDGET WILEY

HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT AT FARAWAY ROAD
Before Faraway Road, Bridget served as the Executive Vice President of Programming at CBS, overseeing all aspects of scripted programs from CBS Network and CBS Studio’s current programming departments and reported directly to both divisions’ presidents.
She worked in multiple television business areas, from my years at a talent agency to some of the most influential studios, including 20th Century Fox TV and CBS Studios.

AARON RAHSAAN THOMAS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – S.W.A.T.Aaron Rahsaan Thomas is an American television and film screenwriter and producer and an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Thomas was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, and attended the Pembroke Hill School in nearby Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Morehouse College before transferring to the University of Kansas, where he graduated with a degree in English Literature. Thereafter, he attended the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, where he remained afterward and lives today.

CHARMAINE DEGRATE

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Charmaine DeGraté is currently a writer and co-executive producer on HBO’s Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon and Hello Sunshine’s Daisy Jones and The Six.
Her other works include the critically acclaimed sci-fi series, The 100, in addition to other Amazon and Netflix shows.
Charmaine attended Vassar College where she spent summers working as a Congressional intern in Washington, DC and producing plays at The Powerhouse Theatre.
She graduated from Vassar with a double major in English Literature and Political Science.
A recipient of The August Wilson Playwright Fellowship, Charmaine is also a graduate of The Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop, an alum of the Austin Film Festival, and an active member of Women In Film.
In the spring of 2020, Charmaine partnered with Margot Robbie and Christina Hodson on the sale of her first feature film.
In the summer of 2020, she signed a development deal with Warner Bros Television.
Ms. DeGraté has a long-standing commitment to humanitarian causes and is an advocate for the education of young women in America and around the world. Currently, she works with Girl Up, Write Girl, and the International Rescue Fund.

MICHAEL NARDUCCI

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Michael Narducci is a producer and writer known for
The Crossing (2018),
The Originals (2013) and
The Vampire Diaries (2009).

ASSIGNMENTS
Level #3 is the only level that has assignments due every week.
Level #3 writing assignments will be due the Saturday before each class. Everyone who signs up for the course will receive assignments turned in by the Level #3 writers to follow along and provide notes directly to the Level#3 writer.
Levels #1, #2, and #4 will do the assignments on your own. Level 1 receives feedback on a 1-2 page pitch document only. Level 2 and Level 4 get feedback during the pilot consult or coaching consults.

I highly recommend that all levels use the Facebook community of writers to exchange scripts for receiving weekly feedback.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED AS A SCREENWRITER TODAY – APRIL 12th at 10:00 am PDT online
2021-04-12 00:00 UTC
REGISTER HERE

ROCABERTI WRITERS RETREAT IN ITALY – APRIL 2021
2021-04-25 00:00 UTC
April 2021

April 13th-20th, 2021
Aragonese Castle,
Ischia,
Italy

Diane Drake

Fully booked

Joan Lane

Fully booked

Kathie Fong Yoneda

Fully booked

Jen Grisanti

Fully booked

Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 16th century Aragonese Castle set on a rock off the coast of the island of Ischia (where The Talented Mr Ripley was shot), we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!

Mentors

Diane Drake

Diane Drake is an accomplished professional screenwriter, writing instructor, story consultant, speaker, and author. Prior to becoming a screenwriter, Diane served as Vice President of Creative Affairs for Academy Award-winning director/producer Sydney Pollack. Her first produced original script, ONLY YOU, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Marisa Tomei, sold for one million dollars, while her second produced script, WHAT WOMEN WANT, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, is the second highest grossing romantic comedy of all time. In addition, both films have recently been remade in China featuring major Chinese stars.
Diane is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America and has been an instructor/speaker/panelist for the Austin Film Festival, UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, Scriptwriter’s Network, Story Development Group, University Club, and Writer’s Store. She has also served as a judge for the Austin Film Festival, UCLA Extension Contest, and The Humanitas Prize. She recently released her debut book, Get Your Story Straight: A Step-By-Step Guide To Screenwriting By A Million Dollar Screenwriter, (Reel Life Publishing, May 2016).

Joan Lane

Joan Lane is a British film and theatre producer, primarily known for having developed the Academy Award-winning THE KING’S SPEECH, directed by Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, and adapted from the stage play by its author David Seidler.
Her company, Wild Thyme Productions, has toured six innovative productions of Shakespeare’s plays in the UK and Germany and mounted world premiere showcases and readings of new plays and musicals in London. She is a member of Musical Theatre Network UK, concerned with the writing of new musicals, and member of the British Shakespeare Association.
Primarily engaged as a Consultant by the BBC, Joan skills were used for the recording, filming and Royal Opera House performance of ‘The Little Prince’. She was a director for BBC Radio Two and BBC Television’s New Talent UK-wide search for the ‘Voice of Musical Theatre’, involved with background music for the film ‘The Actors’, coordinated the participation of singing Angels for Stephen Fry’s directorial film debut ‘Bright Young Things’ and worked on the BBC’s Promenade Concert/Opera ‘The Water Diviner’s Tale’.
As well as touring with her own company, Joan has worked on several plays at the Royal National Theatre and toured plays with ATG and Pleasance Theatre. She recommends scripts to Russian translator colleagues and two plays were produced in Russia recently.
Her own first original screenplay, completed in 2018 and based on the true story of a 1930s actress and singer, was recently taken up and is expected to go into production in 2020.
Joan is currently working with new writers to develop two films and three new TV series.
In addition, four TV series on which she has worked with first-time writers are under consideration.

Kathie Fong Yoneda

With 35+ years experience, Kathie Fong Yoneda has worked for Paramount, Universal, Fox, and Disney, focusing on analysis and development of live action and animated film, television, novels, adaptations, and web series projects. Her career includes exec posts with Disney, Touchstone, Island Pictures and Disney TV Animation.
Kathie has given workshops in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, and wrote a column on screenwriting which became her book, The Script-Selling Game. Some of her clients include RAI-TV Roma, National Film School of Denmark, Bournemouth University, ScreenTraining Ireland, South Carolina Writers, Singapore Media Academy, Romance Writers of America, ScriptFest, Roma Webfest, Writers Institute, Hawaii International Film Festival, and Melbourne Webfest. She was a guest of The Soviet Peace Committee for a 10-day media symposium in Moscow and was Keynote Speaker for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month at The Smithsonian. Kathie received the Mayor’s medal from the City of Marseille for her work in Cultural Arts and was honored as a Catalyst SuperStar for her work by the BronzeLens Film Festival.
Kathie is a mentor for the Rocaberti Writers Retreat and also team-teaches with author/consultant, Linda Seger, Pamela Wallace (writer-producer, co-writer of Oscar- winning WITNESS), Carole Kirschner (author, CBS TV exec) and Pamela Jaye Smith (author, writer-producer, creator of MYTHWORKS).
Her clientele includes several award-winning writers and her book, The Script Selling Game(2nd edition), is used in screenwriting curricula in universities worldwide. She was Co-Exec-Producer on the series Beyond the Break, Associate Producer on the web series drama The Big O, Executive Producer on the upcoming short film Thirty Minutes and is on the Advisory Board for IMAGO (French Production Company) and LAWEBFEST.

Jen Grisanti

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, one hundred and twenty-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and eighty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS

EXPERT TUITION

ALL MEALS AND DRINKS

SEVEN NIGHTS’ LODGING

ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

PROGRAM

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

ROCABERTI ONLINE CLASS FOR SCREENWRITERS
2021-05-08 - 2021-05-09
ROCABERTI VIRTUAL
Schedule

Saturday, May 8th 2021, 8:30am to 1:30pm West Coast time
11.30am to 4.30pm East Coast time
4.30pm to 9.30pm UK time

Please note all times below are U.S. West Coast time:

Time
Description
Mentors

8:30am – 9:00am

Introduction

9:00am – 9:20am

Presentation by one of the mentors.

9:20am – 9:50am

Live feedback from two Rocaberti Virtual mentors on two writers’ synopses.

9:50am – 9:55am

Break

9:55am – 10:15am

Presentation by one of the mentors.

10:15am – 10:45am

Live feedback from two Rocaberti Virtual mentors on two writers’ synopses.

10:45am – 11:45am

Pitching sessions: Four writers will pitch their projects to all four mentors, receiving valuable insights into both the pitching process and how the industry will respond to their projects.

11:45am – 11:50am

Break

11:50am – 12:50pm

Live feedback from four Rocaberti Virtual mentors on four writers’ synopses.

12:50pm – 1:20pm

Q&A: Your chance to ask and receive feedback from the Rocaberti mentors on their presentations or on any other aspect of the industry!

1:20pm – 1:30pm

Final words from your Rocaberti Virtual mentors.

ROCABERTI ONLINE CLASS FOR SCREENWRITERS – MAY 8th at 8:30 am PDT
2021-05-09 00:00 UTC

ROCABERTI RETREATS – JULY 9th -14th 2021
2021-07-15 00:00 UTC
Early July 2021

July 9th-14th, 2021
Marouatte Castle,
The Dordogne,
France

Kelly Edwards

Fully booked

Jen Grisanti

Fully booked

Joan Lane

Fully booked

Stan Zimmerman

Fully booked

Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 16th century Aragonese Castle set on a rock off the coast of the island of Ischia (where The Talented Mr Ripley was shot), we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Learn more about the retreat

Mentors

Kelly Edwards

As the Senior VP of Talent Development for WarnerMedia Entertainment, Kelly Edwards oversees all emerging artist programs for HBO, HBOMax, and Turner.
Edwards brought an innovative new approach to developing the company’s writing and directing fellowships which have become an industry best practice. By marrying the two programs, material created by the writers is shot by the directors with a fully inclusive crew for air on WarnerMedia’s digital platforms. The content has garnered festival awards at SXSW, Tribeca, Seriesfest to name a few.
Prior to HBO, Edwards was a key corporate diversity executive at Comcast/NBCUniversal for over five years where she oversaw over 20 divisions, launched employee resource groups, and introduced diverse creative talent to NBC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and Telemundo.
Edwards’ career has spanned both television and film having produced the movie of the week A CHRISTMAS DETOURfor Hallmark, the one hour series SEX, LOVE, AND SECRETSfor UPN, serving as a network executive for UPN and Fox, and as a creative executive in features. As an executive she helped to develop series such as GIRLFRIENDS, THE PARKERS, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, CLUELESS,and THE WILD THORNBERRYS.
In 2000, Edwards co-founded the non-profit organization Colour Entertainment, a networking group for diverse creative executives and assistants in TV, Film, and Digital, all designed to connect current and future industry executives with one another.
Edwards graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and holds an MFA in Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College. She currently serves on the Annenberg Inclusion Board and is a 2019 Sundance Episodic Lab fellow.

Jen Grisanti

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, one hundred and twenty-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and eighty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.

Joan Lane

Joan Lane is a British film and theatre producer, primarily known for having developed the Academy Award-winning THE KING’S SPEECH, directed by Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, and adapted from the stage play by its author David Seidler.
Her company, Wild Thyme Productions, has toured six innovative productions of Shakespeare’s plays in the UK and Germany and mounted world premiere showcases and readings of new plays and musicals in London. She is a member of Musical Theatre Network UK, concerned with the writing of new musicals, and member of the British Shakespeare Association.
Primarily engaged as a Consultant by the BBC, Joan skills were used for the recording, filming and Royal Opera House performance of ‘The Little Prince’. She was a director for BBC Radio Two and BBC Television’s New Talent UK-wide search for the ‘Voice of Musical Theatre’, involved with background music for the film ‘The Actors’, coordinated the participation of singing Angels for Stephen Fry’s directorial film debut ‘Bright Young Things’ and worked on the BBC’s Promenade Concert/Opera ‘The Water Diviner’s Tale’.
As well as touring with her own company, Joan has worked on several plays at the Royal National Theatre and toured plays with ATG and Pleasance Theatre. She recommends scripts to Russian translator colleagues and two plays were produced in Russia recently.
Her own first original screenplay, completed in 2018 and based on the true story of a 1930s actress and singer, was recently taken up and is expected to go into production in 2020.
Joan is currently working with new writers to develop two films and three new TV series.
In addition, four TV series on which she has worked with first-time writers are under consideration.

Stan Zimmerman

Stan Zimmerman’s long career covers multiple mediums (TV, film and theatre) and he’s won many LA directing awards, including one from BroadwayWorld.com. In addition, he’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Episodic writing for his work on the classic TV series, THE GOLDEN GIRLS and ROSEANNE.
Stan’s also written and produced on GILMORE GIRLS and co-created the Lifetime sitcom, RITA ROCKS. He was Director/Writer/EP/Creator on the Emmy-nominated web series, SECS & EXECS, on Tellofilms. In film, he wrote both BRADY BUNCH movies.
He has been busy lately writing, directing and producing theatre in Los Angeles. Some of Stan’s critically-acclaimed productions include: the LatinX The Diary of Anne Frank, Heartbreak Help, Pledge, Warm Cheese, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, BLINK & You Might Miss Me, Spike Heels, A Tuna Christmas and Gemini. He also directed two of the plays he wrote with Christian McLaughlin: Yes Virginia, Knife to the Heart and Meet & Greet.
Stan has appeared on Broadway with Nureyev & the Joffrey Ballet at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and was the Host/Showrunner on Sean Hayes’ Bravo reality show, SITUATION: COMEDY. Stan also teaches audition technique classes in LA and NYC. He has a BFA-Drama NYU/Circle-in-the-Square.

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS

EXPERT TUITION

ALL MEALS AND DRINKS

FIVE NIGHTS’ LODGING

ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

PROGRAM

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

ROCABERTI RETREATS: JULY 16-21, 2021
2021-07-22 00:00 UTC
Marouatte Castle, The Dordogne, France

Jen Grisanti

Fully booked

Kelly Edwards

Fully booked

Richard “RB” Botto

Fully booked

Tom Dever

Fully booked

Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?

Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script?

Seems impossible, right?

Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 16th century Aragonese Castle set on a rock off the coast of the island of Ischia (where The Talented Mr Ripley was shot), we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Learn more about the retreat

Mentors

Jen Grisanti

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.

Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.

In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, one hundred and twenty-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and eighty have sold pilots, six that that went to series.

Kelly Edwards

As the Senior VP of Talent Development for WarnerMedia Entertainment, Kelly Edwards oversees all emerging artist programs for HBO, HBOMax, and Turner.

Edwards brought an innovative new approach to developing the company’s writing and directing fellowships which have become an industry best practice. By marrying the two programs, material created by the writers is shot by the directors with a fully inclusive crew for air on WarnerMedia’s digital platforms. The content has garnered festival awards at SXSW, Tribeca, Seriesfest to name a few.

Prior to HBO, Edwards was a key corporate diversity executive at Comcast/NBCUniversal for over five years where she oversaw over 20 divisions, launched employee resource groups, and introduced diverse creative talent to NBC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and Telemundo.

Edwards’ career has spanned both television and film having produced the movie of the week A CHRISTMAS DETOURfor Hallmark, the one hour series SEX, LOVE, AND SECRETSfor UPN, serving as a network executive for UPN and Fox, and as a creative executive in features. As an executive she helped to develop series such as GIRLFRIENDS, THE PARKERS, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, CLUELESS,and THE WILD THORNBERRYS.

In 2000, Edwards co-founded the non-profit organization Colour Entertainment, a networking group for diverse creative executives and assistants in TV, Film, and Digital, all designed to connect current and future industry executives with one another.

Edwards graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and holds an MFA in Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College. She currently serves on the Annenberg Inclusion Board and is a 2019 Sundance Episodic Lab fellow.

Richard “RB” Botto

Richard “RB” Botto is the Founder and CEO of Stage 32, the official film education & networking platform of AFM and the Marche du Film at Cannes Film Festival. Stage32.com is the world’s largest online platform connecting and educating film, TV & digital creatives and executives worldwide. Since 2011, Stage 32 has emerged as an online community of over 500,000 creatives with over 1,000 hours of online education taught by over 500 industry executives.

RB is also a working actor, producer and screenwriter. As a producer, his films have played at dozens of festivals including the Sundance award winning feature, Another Happy Day, written & directed by Sam Levinson (starring Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Ellen Barkin), the documentary Crutch, the feature What Lies Ahead (starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumon) releasing in 2019 and the upcoming Rain- Beau’s End (starring Ed Asner, Sean Young and Kate Arrington). As a writer, his latest screenplay, The End Game, is currently set up at Covert Media. As an actor, his latest film On the Corner of Ego and Desire premiered at the 2018 Raindance Film Festvial.

Botto is a best-selling author with his book Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers, published by Routledge Press under the American Film Market Presents banner. The book can be found at the Routledge Press booth by AFM badge registration and on Amazon, where it has over 50 5-star reviews.

A sought-after speaker and mentor, RB has been a keynote speaker and panelist at such festivals and conferences as Cannes, AFM, Tribeca, Sundance, Raindance, SXSW, Portugal FEST and Winston Baker. He has also taught at institutions such as Harvard and Columbia University on the subjects of filmmaking, producing, film finance, screenwriting, social media, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, entrepreneurship and business.

Tom Dever

Tom Dever was born and raised in Ohio and has worked in every conceivable facet of the film industry for the past decade; most notably in feature film production at Fox Searchlight Pictures and most regrettably in reality television casting. He is currently the VP of Development for Coverfly, a talent discovery platform and screenplay aggregation software company, where he recently packaged a feature film at Netflix, with Imagine set to produce. His debut feature FOR THE WEEKEND is currently available on streaming platforms worldwide.

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS

EXPERT TUITION

ALL MEALS AND DRINKS

FIVE NIGHTS’ LODGING

ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

PROGRAM

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

SCREENWRITERS SAFARI – SEPTEMBER 15 – 20, 2021
2021-09-25 00:00 UTC
INSPIRED UNDER AFRICAN SKIES

Have you got something really fabulous to look forward to?
​
5 nights in luxury with Hollywood mentors on this Screenwriters Safari in South Africa
​
Breathe new life into your script
ONLY 16 spots available.
Choose one of our 4 exceptional mentors.
​
Have a safari vacation of a lifetime while you network and learn from some of the most connected film and screenwriting professionals in Hollywood.
Take your screenwriting career to the next level, and who knows where that next level may be!

YOUR TYPICAL DAY

BOOK YOUR SPOT

Partners Welcome

6.00am – 9.00am
Early morning safari (the best time to view Africa’s wildlife)
​
9.00am – 10.00am
A luxury breakfast that caters to all dietary requirements
​
10.00am – 10.30am
Q&A / knowledge sharing from your mentors
​
10.30am – 1.00pm
One-on-one consulting script consulting and feedback session with your chosen mentor
​
1.00pm – 2.00pm
Lunch in the award-winning restaurant
​
4.00pm – 4.30pm
High Tea overlooking the bushveld
​
4.30pm – 7.30pm
Evening safari game drive where you’ll witness the awakening wildlife amidst the dramatic African sunset
​
7.30pm
Dinner in the restaurant or under the starry sky, accompanied by uniquely African ‘song’ of lions, hyenas and jackals

VENUE

SHEPHERD’S TREE GAME LODGE PILANESBERG, SOUTH AFRICA

VIEW GALLERY

WEBSITE FOR SCREENWRITERS SAFARI

Story Therapy event including Storywise Teleseminar
2022-02-15 19:00 - 2022-03-23 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
2022 STORY THERAPY EVENT AND STORYWISE 6-WEEK TV PILOT WRITING TELESEMINAR
My Thirteenth Annual Storywise Teleseminar starts on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, and goes through March 23, 2022. This seminar is a live and interactive event that includes story instruction, pitching, and an opportunity to get feedback from top working TV writers.
Classes begin on Tuesday, February 15th at 7:00 pm PST ONLINE and go through March 22, 2022
Want to learn all of the things that I teach in Writers on the Verge at NBC? Check out my Storywise 6-Week Teleseminar that includes an eight-module story instruction training series called “Story Therapy: How To Write A Story That Sells.”
I give full breakdowns for five shows and a breakdown for one feature. We will take a deep dive into several story tools that could lead you to a sale. I designed the story modules for “Story Therapy” and the 6-week program to help you write a compelling script in six weeks. I will teach you how to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more. To date, ninety-six pilots sold from writers that took part in this experience and my one on one consults.
Last year we had over 180 writers from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a precious resource. In it, you can exchange scripts, find accountability partners, and form writer groups.
I’ve seen the success of this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this course have gone on to sell pilots, features, and get staffed on TV shows, and get into several prestigious writing programs. Ninety-six pilots sold from the writers that I’ve worked with and six of them went to series.
I will pre-record the story instruction. The story instruction will launch in January. The digital course is titled “Story Therapy: How To Write A Story That Sells.”
In February, each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the four writers participating at Level 3. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This process is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, I will allow five people to sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others’ pitch. This part of the program will help you learn from others’ pitching style and allow you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have a chance to sign up for this.

LEVEL 1
At Level 1, you get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase. You get to participate in all six online classes that start on 2/15 at 7:00 pm PT. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will also have the opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec or TV pilot script and receive written feedback. After the course ends, you have to turn this in for up to a year.

RATE$597
ALUMNI RATE $397

LEVEL 2 – Includes TV Pilot Consult (limited slots available)
At Level 2, you get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You have access to these for one year from purchase. You participate in all six online classes that start 2/15 at 7:00 pm PT. You will receive a recording of the classes. You can also pitch to my weekly guest speakers. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV Pilot script.

RATE$1,272
ALUMNI RATE$1,172

Level 2+ with 3 COACHING CONSULTS (limited slots available)
At Level 2+, you get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase. You get to participate in all six online classes that start 2/15 at 7:00 pm PT. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level includes 3 Coaching Consults. We can cover your TV pilot and your TV spec. Or, you can use all three for your TV pilot.
* Please send me an email at jen@jengrisanti.com to book the meetings upon purchase.

RATE$2,597
ALUMNI RATE$2,497

LEVEL 3 – SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
At Level 3, you get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase. You will get feedback on your TV pilot script during all six classes. We will start with the concept, outline, and several drafts of the script. Assignments are due the Saturday before the class. This level includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.

Jared Michael Delaney is a stage/screenwriter & actor based in Philadelphia, Pa. His full-length plays got produced at Perseverance Theatre, New Jersey Repertory Company, Inis Nua Theatre Co, Edinburgh Festival, and Theatre Conspiracy. His short plays have been part of the recent QuarenStream, 1MPF & Going Viral online festivals. Athena Theatre has produced others, NJ Rep, MadLab Theatre, Aberrant Theatre, Pegasus Theatre, Raze the Space and the Philadelphia LiveArts Festival. His work has been further presented at the Valdez Theatre Conference and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, in readings across the country, and developed in writers’ groups Athena Writes and The Foundry. His play, Voyager One, was named a “Top Ten Production of the Year in New Jersey” in 2019. M.A., Villanova University; M.F.A., Queens University of Charlotte. Member: Dramatists’ Guild, AEA, New Play Exchange. Further education: Script Anatomy, Sundance Co/Lab, the Playwrights’ Center, PlayPenn, DGF. www.jaredmichaeldelaney.com

Tatiana Maciel is a published writer and screenwriter from Brazil.
Her love for the cinema started when she was very little: After watching ET, the Extraterrestrial, and running a fever together with ET and Elliot, she began to understand her life would always be intertwined with the moving pictures.
Tatiana began her professional career in 1998 as an AD for both Brazilian and international commercials and features, such as The Incredible Hulk.
In 2004, she first collaborated as a writer on a feature and since then had four screenplays produced as features in Brazil.
Most recently, she went on to work on the staff of TV Globo series “Filhos da Pátria.”

Darci Faye was born and raised in Aroostook County, northern Maine — where the moose outnumber the people two to one. Darci is passionate about using her voice to write hour-long TV pilots that shed light on the very big social issues that plague her very small community. It turns out the same big crimes happen in rural America, but we’re just better at hiding them. Armed with her degree in Criminal Justice, backed up by her master’s degree in TV Writing from Boston University and filled with a lifetime of rural living, she is ready to bring her unique perspective to the small screen.

Bill Sindelar is originally from Cleveland, Ohio (please don’t ask him about the Browns). He is an audience warm-up host on several television shows, including The Talk, The Voice, The Conners, and almost every show with the word ‘The’ in it. Bill is an actor, writer, and was the mascot for the Los Angeles Angels, hosted shows at Universal Studios, and danced to Bye, Bye, Bye with Joey Fatone on national television (that you can ask about). He recently put down his two dogs three weeks apart. Yes, there’s his wound. Yes, you will hear about that in his work. In his free time, Bill enjoys discussing theme parks and rollercoasters, and he finished several scripts while hosting ‘The COVID’ and realized that now, more than ever, he wants to be staffed on a show and pursue his dream of storytelling.

Corey Martin Craig is an actor, writer, producer, director, two-time TEDx speaker, and comedy coach. He has appeared on Netflix, Showtime, TNT, FOX, ABC, and Nickelodeon. Corey directed comedy specials for Samuel J Comroe (America’s Got Talent) Nicole Burch (HBO). He is the founder of Cool Beans Comedy, Los Angeles’ premiere stand-up comedy school and brand. He is the author of a book on stand-up comedy and has coached performers from ages eight to eighty.

LEVEL 4 (2 Slots) SOLD OUT
Level 4 includes 5 Coaching Consults.
The service includes five online meetings up to an hour in length, including coverage on one script or as many as three scripts. The coaching consults include going over career guidance, pitching, meeting skills, and loglines in addition to notes.

RATE$3,775
ALUMNI RATE$3,575

GUEST SPEAKERS

Vanessa Taylor has worked widely in television, most recently as Co-Executive Producer on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Her feature films include “Hope Springs,” “Divergent,” “Hillbilly Elegy,” and “The Shape of Water,” for which she received an Oscar nomination.

Dan O’Shannon is an American television writer and producer who has worked on shows such as Newhart, Cheers, and Frasier. He was an executive producer of the ABC show Modern Family but left the show at the conclusion of season five to accept a development deal at CBS TV Studios.

Aaron Rahsaan Thomas is an acclaimed television and film screenwriter and producer from Kansas City, Kansas. Most recently, Aaron was the co-creator and executive producer of the procedural series reboot of S.W.A.T., which airs on Sunday nights on CBS. Aaron is currently developing new projects.
Aaron has had two screenplays produced as feature films: Cover, directed by Bill Duke, and Assassination Games, starring Jean Claude Van Damme. He has also directed an ESPN 30 for 30 film about the USC football team during the Pete Carroll era, entitled, Trojan War.
Aaron began his professional career as a writer’s assistant on Soul Food: The Series and went on to work on the staff of such TV series as NBC’s Friday Night Lights, for which he received a Peabody Award, as well as CBS procedurals, such as Numb3rs and CSI:NY. Aaron has also served as a Co-Executive Producer on TNT’s SouthLAnd, Fox’s Sleepy Hollow and Netflix’s The Get Down.
Aaron Rahsaan Thomas grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, developing a love for storytelling after completing a fifth-grade assignment to create his own original Greek myth from scratch. As time passed, Aaron developed his passion for storytelling visually and attended Morehouse College. Aaron would also matriculate through the University of Kansas, earning honors in English Literature, before moving to Los Angeles and attending the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts for graduate school. After graduating from USC, Aaron was selected for the prestigious CBS Writers Mentoring Program.

Brig Muñoz-Liebowitz serves as Showrunner and Executive Producer on the upcoming HBOMax comedy Gordita Chronicles. Her writing career was launched on the staff of NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She went on to work on comedy series such as TBS’ People of Earth, NBC’s Abby’s, Diary of a Future President for Disney+, and HBOMax’s Love Life. She has developed projects for CBS/CBSTVS and Hulu/WBTV/Berlanti Prods and currently has a two year development deal at Sony Pictures Television. Muñoz-Liebowitz is repped by Blake Fronstin at WME Entertainment, Industry Entertainment’s Sara Bottfeld and Dianne Fraser, and attorney Gregg Gellman at Morris Yorn.

Carla Kettner was born in Calgary, Canada. After graduating USC she moved to Australia and became a journalist and award-winning short story author.
Kettner quickly transitioned into writing and producing Australian television, and moved back to Los Angeles. Since then she has written and produced hundreds of hours of television, primarily dramas. She was Executive Producer of “The Blacklist”, “Bones”, “Vanished” and “Mob Doctor”. Other credits include “Zoo”, “Night Shift”, “Early Edition”, “Judging Amy”, “Due South” and “Strong Medicine”.
Kettner has written pilots for Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS. She is currently the showrunner of the Spectrum Originals/Roku Originals crimedy “Panhandle,” and she has multiple projects in development with Sony, including projects at Apple, Netflix, and Freeform. She also has a musical period piece, “Mademoiselles”, with Paramount. She is passionate about encouraging diverse new voices and, through her company Danger Doll Productions, is working one-on-one with emerging writers.
In the spirit of fostering the next generation of TV talent, Kettner has lectured and sat on panels for USC School of Cinema-Television, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Boston University, and has done multiple screenwriting seminars and podcasts.

Ted Humphrey is a writer, producer, director and showrunner and the founder and principal of Algorithm Entertainment, a film and television production company based at CBS Television Studios in Los Angeles. Currently, he is the Executive Producer, co-creator/developer and showrunner of the upcoming Netflix series “THE LINCOLN LAWYER,” based on the Michael Connelly novels. He was previously the creator, showrunner and Executive Producer of the CBS drama series “WISDOM OF THE CROWD,” and is perhaps best known as a writer, director and Executive Producer of the acclaimed CBS series “THE GOOD WIFE,” as well as the showrunner/Executive Producer of the Syfy series “INCORPORATED.” He has written and produced series for many networks in both broadcast and cable, as well as several feature films.
For his work on “THE GOOD WIFE,” he was honored with multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and Writer’s Guild nominations for Best Drama Series, as well as a Writer’s Guild nomination for Best Episodic Drama Script and the Voices of Courage and Conscience Award from the Muslim Public Affairs Council for his first season episode, “Boom.” “THE GOOD WIFE” also earned a Peabody Award and was twice honored with the American Film Institute’s Award for Excellence in Film and Television.
Ted is a graduate of Georgetown University, and holds law and graduate degrees from the University of Virginia. He began his career as an attorney in Washington D.C., before coming to his senses.

MY TEAM

Shana Lloyd is a (recovering) actor, (sometimes) filmmaker, and (mostly) screenwriter hailing from suburban Maryland. She studied acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. While in NYC, she worked off Broadway at many theaters, such as La Mama and NYTW (New York Theatre Workshop). As an actor, she has shared the stage with such greats as the late, great Ed Asner and Isabella Hofmann, who was also one of her Improv teachers.
Shana established Crisis Management Productions in 2011 as a vehicle to produce more female-driven socially relevant content. Shana currently has a few TV projects of her own in development, as well as with longtime collaborator and writing partner, Alison McKenzie. She has also worked extensively behind-the-scenes in production and at the network level–giving her a unique perspective and comprehensive knowledge of the entertainment industry.
Shana recently wrote and voiced some video spots for LIVEKINDLY, a global plant-based food company and popular healthy lifestyle blog. One of her latest collaborations was assisting the current class of NBC’s Writers on the Verge, working with one of her mentors, Jen Grisanti. She’s currently an adjunct faculty member in the Screenwriting departments at AFI and Emerson Los Angeles.

Sara Norcott is a writer, editor, story consultant, idea-generator, and content creator with a BA in Communications and an MFA in Writing for Stage & Screen.With over 10 years of experience in creating content for businesses and brands, including Fortune 500 and 100 companies, she approaches storytelling and editing with precision, excellence, and an emphasis on how a story and its characters resonate with an audience.Her training also includes script coverage, developing resources for screenwriters, and being a content editor for Jen Grisanti.Sara offers story notes, proofreading and editing services, and personalized story consulting for both television and film. Contact: sbnorcott@gmail.com

Liz Thompson is a puzzle-obsessed screenwriter and playwright who grew up watching Gilda Radner sketches with friends, bingeing Columbo reruns with her dad, and attending neuroscience conferences with her mom. Her subsequent passion for comedy, mystery, and the ongoing puzzle of human behavior is woven through every story she writes.
While cutting her creative teeth on Chicago’s renowned theater scene, Liz created an award-winning web series, produced multiple comedy shows, and served as vice president on the board of directors for Red Theater Chicago. Since moving to LA, she’s found a knack for developing stories, working with Oscar nominated producers and staffed TV writers to develop their features and pilots. She’s also written numerous screenwriting articles for Final Draft and worked as a content editor for story consultant Jen Grisanti and the NBC Writers on the Verge program.
Working in both comedy and drama, Liz has sold one show and is currently developing others. Her scripts have won and placed in multiple competitions and she was featured in The Bitch List in 2020. Two of her short plays have also won top selections in and have been produced as part of Chicago’s annual Paragon Play Festival. Liz is represented by David Clark at Mazo Partners.

Screenwriters Safari (9/26-10-/1)
2022-09-26 08:00 - 2022-10-01 17:00 UTC
SCREENWRITERS SAFARI
INSPIRED UNDER AFRICAN SKIES

Have you got something really fabulous to look forward to?
5 nights in luxury with Hollywood mentors on this Screenwriters Safari in South Africa ​
Breathe new life into your script
Book your spot with one of the 4 exceptional mentors.
Only 16 spots available in total
(4 per mentor).
Please email info@scriptoafrica.com ​
Have a safari vacation of a lifetime while you network and learn from some of the most connected film and screenwriting professionals in Hollywood.
Take your screenwriting career to the next level, and who knows where that next level may be!

YOUR TYPICAL DAY

BOOK YOUR SPOT

Partners Welcome

6.00am – 9.00am
Early morning safari (the best time to view Africa’s wildlife)
​
9.00am – 10.00am
A luxury breakfast that caters to all dietary requirements
​
10.00am – 10.30am
Q&A / knowledge sharing from your mentors
​
10.30am – 1.00pm
One-on-one consulting script consulting and feedback session with your chosen mentor
​
1.00pm – 2.00pm
Lunch in the award-winning restaurant
​
4.00pm – 4.30pm
High Tea overlooking the bushveld
​
5.00pm – 7.30pm
Evening safari game drive where you’ll witness the awakening wildlife amidst the dramatic African sunset
​
7.30pm
Dinner in the restaurant or under the starry sky, accompanied by uniquely African ‘song’ of lions, hyenas and jackals
https://jengrisanti.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ScreenwritersSafarivideo_1_9bd2ab2a7d8a4427a4031a3fe38d2302.mp4

VENUE

SHEPHERD’S TREE GAME LODGE PILANESBERG, SOUTH AFRICA

2023 Story Therapy: Character & Character Dynamics Digital Course And 6-Week Live Online Event Series
2023-02-21 19:00 - 2023-03-28 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
STORY THERAPY: CHARACTER & CHARACTER DYNAMICS DIGITAL COURSE AND TELESEMINAR
CONVERSATION WITH LEE JESSUP ON STORY THERAPY
https://www.jengrisanti.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/sub-ConversationwithLeeSpeakerViewGMT20230105-201533_Recording_avo_640x360.mp4

Story Therapy: Character & Character Dynamics Event includes both the digital course and the teleseminar. The course includes modules with sixteen story instruction videos with story tools, complete breakdowns for eight shows, handouts, and video clips where I illustrate the story tools. I have included a breakdown for one feature film. I also have Advanced Tips, Resources, etc. This digital course leads into my live online six-week Story Therapy Teleseminar.
LIST OF THE EIGHT SHOWS

SEVERANCE
GASLIT
THE BEAR
LIFE & BETH
WE CRASHED
SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE
DOPESICK
THE OLD MAN

FEATURE

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

The Story Therapy Teleseminar starts on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, and goes through March 28, 2023. This seminar is a live and interactive event that includes story instruction, script notes for Level 3, pitching, and an opportunity to get feedback from top working TV writers.
Classes begin on Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 pm PST ONLINE and go through March 28, 2023
Each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will review the notes for the four writers. You will be able to read their scripts and make notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. It is a way to prepare you for the writers’ room.
Five people will sign up each week and get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. All levels are eligible. This part of the program will help you learn from others’ pitching styles and allow you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool.
With the 150 writers who participated last year, there was a tremendous opportunity for connecting with a writers’ community.
You will learn all the story tools you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in this private community of writers. This community is a precious resource. In it, you can exchange scripts, find accountability partners, form writer groups, and create friendships with writers worldwide.
I’ve seen the success of this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this course have gone on to sell pilots, and features, get staffed on TV shows and get into several prestigious writing programs. To date, 107 have been sold by the writers I’ve worked with.
Below are the levels available for this event’s six-week live online portion. Each level adds more to the experience.
The opportunity to be a part of this experience will be available during my launch.
LEVEL 1

You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 2/21/23 at 7:00 pm PT.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
You will also have the opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers.
You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec or TV pilot script and receive written feedback. After the course ends, you must turn this in for up to a year.

LEVEL 1 (new to the event – 1st time taking it)

LEVEL 1 – ALUMNI RATE

LEVEL 2 (SOLD OUT)
Includes TV Pilot Consult and LIVE FEEDBACK for one of the six classes

You will also get an opportunity to rotate in at Level 3 for one of the six weeks to receive feedback on your TV pilot. This level includes a one-on-one consult where you receive written and verbal feedback and a call recording.
You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 2/21/23 at 7:00 pm PT.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
You will also have the opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers.

New Opportunity
To give more feedback for everyone to learn from different scripts, I added this new option. LEVEL 2 this year will get to rotate into Level 3 for one of the six classes to receive live feedback.

LEVEL 3 (CLOSED)

With Level 3, you will get feedback on your TV pilot script during all six classes. We will start with the concept, outline, and several drafts of the script. Assignments are due the Saturday before the class. This level includes written and verbal feedback. At this level, you are participating like you are in a writing program.
You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 2/21/23 at 7:00 pm PT.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
Level 3 will get to choose which guest speaker they want to pitch.

LEVEL 4 (SOLD OUT)

GUEST SPEAKERS

Vanessa Taylor has worked widely in television, most recently as Co-Executive Producer on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Her feature films include “Hope Springs,” “Divergent,” “Hillbilly Elegy,” and “The Shape of Water,” for which she received an Oscar nomination.

Dan O’Shannon is an American television writer and producer who has worked on shows such as Newhart, Cheers, and Frasier. He was an executive producer of the ABC show Modern Family but left the show at the conclusion of season five to accept a development deal at CBS TV Studios.

Carla Kettner was born in Calgary, Canada. After graduating USC she moved to Australia and became a journalist and award-winning short story author.
Kettner quickly transitioned into writing and producing Australian television, and moved back to Los Angeles. Since then she has written and produced hundreds of hours of television, primarily dramas. She was Executive Producer of “The Blacklist”, “Bones”, “Vanished” and “Mob Doctor”. Other credits include “Zoo”, “Night Shift”, “Early Edition”, “Judging Amy”, “Due South” and “Strong Medicine”.
Kettner has written pilots for Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS. She is currently the showrunner of the Spectrum Originals/Roku Originals crimedy “Panhandle,” and she has multiple projects in development with Sony, including projects at Apple, Netflix, and Freeform. She also has a musical period piece, “Mademoiselles”, with Paramount. She is passionate about encouraging diverse new voices and, through her company Danger Doll Productions, is working one-on-one with emerging writers.
In the spirit of fostering the next generation of TV talent, Kettner has lectured and sat on panels for USC School of Cinema-Television, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Boston University, and has done multiple screenwriting seminars and podcasts.

Jenny Lynn grew up the child of Taiwanese immigrants who ran a garment business. Riding with her parents through Southern California's vibrant ethnic enclaves, she would often dream of the characters and stories she might be witness to. Since then, she has plunged into worlds as eclectic as vampires, superheroes, and cutthroat athletes, having cut her entertainment teeth as a junior creative executive on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, and FIREFLY. Then as a Writer on such hits as ARROW, Marvel’s IRON FIST, and SPINNING OUT.
Jenny is currently the Co-Executive Producer on FX’s critically-acclaimed series MAYANS M.C. and developing original series for FX and Twentieth Television.

David Schulner started his television career on Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz’s beloved “Once and Again.” Other credits include the award-winning first year of “Desperate Housewives”, “Everwood”, “Kings”, “Tell Me You Love Me” on HBO, creator/showrunner of “Do No Harm”, and showrunner of “Emerald City”. His 2008 spec script, “The Oaks” started a bidding war between CBS, ABC and FOX, ultimately being picked up straight-to-series by FOX starring Jeremy Renner. Then the writers strike happened. ITV in Great Britain successfully relaunched the show as the critically acclaimed series, “Marchlands”, followed by season two, “Lightfields”. David just wrapped five seasons as creator/showrunner of NBC’s “New Amsterdam” (WGA nom, Normal Lear Sentinel Award, Hollywood Critic’s Assoc. Award) and is developing new projects under his fifth overall deal with Universal Television.
As a playwright, David’s plays have been produced off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater, The Old Globe, Long Wharf Theater and at Sundance.
David is also the creator of CLONE, a popular comic published by Image/Skybound.

Claudia Forestieri is the Creator and Executive Producer of GORDITA CHRONICLES, a family comedy inspired by her childhood. Before creating her own series, Claudia wrote on Freeform’s GOOD TROUBLE and Netflix’s SELENA THE SERIES. She’s a proud alumna of the ABC Disney, NBC Writers on the Verge, HBOAccess writing programs, and the University of Florida (go Gators!). She began her storytelling career as a news reporter and producer for Telemundo stations in four major cities, including Los Angeles, where she earned five local Emmys and a GLAAD Media Award for her work. Claudia was born in Puerto Rico, raised in Miami, is of Dominican descent, and currently lives with her Lakers super fan husband in sunny Los Feliz.

Justin Hillian is the writer/executive producer/showrunner for The Chi. Additional TV writing/producing credits include Snowfall, I’m Dying Up Here, and Superstore.

Liz Thompson is a puzzle-obsessed screenwriter and playwright who grew up watching Gilda Radner sketches with friends, bingeing Columbo reruns with her dad, and attending neuroscience conferences with her mom. Her subsequent passion for comedy, mystery and the ongoing puzzle of human behavior is woven through every story she writes.
While cutting her creative teeth on Chicago’s renowned theater scene, Liz created an award-winning web series, produced multiple comedy shows, served as vice president on the board of directors for Red Theater Chicago, and had two sci-fi plays win top selections in Chicago’s annual Paragon Play Festival. After moving to LA, Liz has worked as a development consultant to Oscar-nominated producers and staffed TV writers to develop their features and pilots. She’s written numerous screenwriting articles for Final Draft, worked as a content editor for story consultant Jen Grisanti and the NBC Writers on the Verge program, and was featured in The Bitch List in 2020.
Working in both comedy and drama, Liz has sold shows to CBS and NBC and has more projects in development now. Liz is represented by David Clark at Mazo Partners.

MY TEAM

Shana Lloyd is a (recovering) actor, (sometimes) filmmaker, and (mostly) screenwriter hailing from suburban Maryland. She studied acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. While in NYC, she worked off Broadway at many theaters, such as La Mama and NYTW (New York Theatre Workshop). As an actor, she has shared the stage with such greats as the late, great Ed Asner and Isabella Hofmann, who was also one of her Improv teachers.
Shana established Crisis Management Productions in 2011 as a vehicle to produce more female-driven socially relevant content. Shana currently has a few TV projects of her own in development, as well as with longtime collaborator and writing partner, Alison McKenzie. She has also worked extensively behind-the-scenes in production and at the network level–giving her a unique perspective and comprehensive knowledge of the entertainment industry.
Shana recently wrote and voiced some video spots for LIVEKINDLY, a global plant-based food company and popular healthy lifestyle blog. One of her latest collaborations was assisting the current class of NBC’s Writers on the Verge, working with one of her mentors, Jen Grisanti. She’s currently an adjunct faculty member in the Screenwriting departments at AFI and Emerson Los Angeles.

Sara Norcott is a writer, editor, story consultant, idea-generator, and content creator with a BA in Communications and an MFA in Writing for Stage & Screen.With over 10 years of experience in creating content for businesses and brands, including Fortune 500 and 100 companies, she approaches storytelling and editing with precision, excellence, and an emphasis on how a story and its characters resonate with an audience.Her training also includes script coverage, developing resources for screenwriters, and being a content editor for Jen Grisanti.Sara offers story notes, proofreading and editing services, and personalized story consulting for both television and film. Contact: sbnorcott@gmail.com

The Good Word Writers Retreat - Patmos, Greece
2023-06-04 - 2023-06-09
MEET THE MENTORS WEBINAR – THE GOOD WORD WRITERS RETREAT
MEET THE MENTORS

Rocaberti Retreat in France (June/July)
2023-06-30 - 2023-07-05
LEARN MORE

June 30th – July 5th, 2023 Marouatte Castle, The Dordogne, France

Tom Dever

Jen Grisanti

Kelly Edwards

Richard “RB” Botto

Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen? Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script? Seems impossible, right? Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 16th century Aragonese Castle set on a rock off the coast of the island of Ischia (where The Talented Mr Ripley was shot), we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Learn more about the retreat

Mentors

Tom Dever
Tom Dever was born and raised in Ohio and has worked in every conceivable facet of the film industry for the past decade; most notably in feature film production at Fox Searchlight Pictures and most regrettably in reality television casting. He is currently the VP of Development for Coverfly, a talent discovery platform and screenplay aggregation software company, where he recently packaged a feature film at Netflix, with Imagine set to produce. His debut feature FOR THE WEEKEND is currently available on streaming platforms worldwide.

Jen Grisanti
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success. Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends. In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.

Kelly Edwards
As the Senior VP of Talent Development for WarnerMedia Entertainment, Kelly Edwards oversees all emerging artist programs for HBO, HBOMax, and Turner. Edwards brought an innovative new approach to developing the company’s writing and directing fellowships which have become an industry best practice. By marrying the two programs, material created by the writers is shot by the directors with a fully inclusive crew for air on WarnerMedia’s digital platforms. The content has garnered festival awards at SXSW, Tribeca, Seriesfest to name a few. Prior to HBO, Edwards was a key corporate diversity executive at Comcast/NBCUniversal for over five years where she oversaw over 20 divisions, launched employee resource groups, and introduced diverse creative talent to NBC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and Telemundo. Edwards’ career has spanned both television and film having produced the movie of the week A CHRISTMAS DETOURfor Hallmark, the one hour series SEX, LOVE, AND SECRETSfor UPN, serving as a network executive for UPN and Fox, and as a creative executive in features. As an executive she helped to develop series such as GIRLFRIENDS, THE PARKERS, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, CLUELESS,and THE WILD THORNBERRYS. In 2000, Edwards co-founded the non-profit organization Colour Entertainment, a networking group for diverse creative executives and assistants in TV, Film, and Digital, all designed to connect current and future industry executives with one another. Edwards graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and holds an MFA in Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College. She currently serves on the Annenberg Inclusion Board and is a 2019 Sundance Episodic Lab fellow.

Richard “RB” Botto
Richard “RB” Botto is the Founder and CEO of Stage 32, the official film education & networking platform of AFM and the Marche du Film at Cannes Film Festival. Stage32.com is the world’s largest online platform connecting and educating film, TV & digital creatives and executives worldwide. Since 2011, Stage 32 has emerged as an online community of over 500,000 creatives with over 1,000 hours of online education taught by over 500 industry executives. RB is also a working actor, producer and screenwriter. As a producer, his films have played at dozens of festivals including the Sundance award winning feature, Another Happy Day, written & directed by Sam Levinson (starring Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Ellen Barkin), the documentary Crutch, the feature What Lies Ahead (starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumon) releasing in 2019 and the upcoming Rain- Beau’s End (starring Ed Asner, Sean Young and Kate Arrington). As a writer, his latest screenplay, The End Game, is currently set up at Covert Media. As an actor, his latest film On the Corner of Ego and Desire premiered at the 2018 Raindance Film Festvial. Botto is a best-selling author with his book Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers, published by Routledge Press under the American Film Market Presents banner. The book can be found at the Routledge Press booth by AFM badge registration and on Amazon, where it has over 50 5-star reviews. A sought-after speaker and mentor, RB has been a keynote speaker and panelist at such festivals and conferences as Cannes, AFM, Tribeca, Sundance, Raindance, SXSW, Portugal FEST and Winston Baker. He has also taught at institutions such as Harvard and Columbia University on the subjects of filmmaking, producing, film finance, screenwriting, social media, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, entrepreneurship and business.

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS

EXPERT TUITION

ALL MEALS AND DRINKS

FIVE NIGHTS’ LODGING

ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

PROGRAM

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Rocaberti Retreat in France (July)
2023-07-07 - 2023-07-12
July 7th -12th, 2023 at Marouatte Castle in The Dordogne, France. LEARN MORE

Jen Grisanti

Joan Lane

Martin Olson

Niall Johnson

Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen? Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script? Seems impossible, right? Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 16th century Aragonese Castle set on a rock off the coast of the island of Ischia (where The Talented Mr Ripley was shot), we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Learn more about the retreat

Creating A Concept That Sells Workshop
2023-10-03 19:00 - 2023-10-24 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
I created this Creating A Concept That Sells Workshop as an action step to help you move forward with writing concepts that sell. If you missed the FREE WEBINAR, it is included in the course’s first module.
The workshop begins on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m. PDT and goes through Tuesday, October 24, 2023:

Class #1 – Tuesday, October 3rd at 7:00 pm PDT
Class #2 – Tuesday, October 10th at 7:00 pm PDT
Class #3 – Tuesday, October 17th at 7:00 pm PDT
Class #4 – Tuesday, October 24th at 7:00 pm PDT

When you sign up, you will receive story instruction modules. I recommend that you go through these modules before the course starts.
MODULE #1: ENGAGING YOUR AUDIENCE – THREE QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR STORY ABOUT?
HOW DO YOU SHOW THE MAIN CONFLICT?
DO WE FEEL THE CONCEPT THROUGHOUT?
MODULE #2: CREATING A SELLING CONCEPT
DEVELOP YOUR CONCEPT
BRAINSTORM IDEAS FOR A SELLING CONCEPT
DEFINING YOUR STRUCTURE
MODULE #3: MARKETING A SELLING CONCEPT
PITCHING
MARKETING YOURSELF
MEETINGS
Online classes begin on Tuesday, 10/3/23, at 7:00 p.m. PDT.
LEVEL 1
REGULAR RATE – $397.00

15-MINUTE CONCEPT SESSIONDigital Story Instruction
15-Minute One-On-One Concept Call with Jen
Breakdowns & Formulas
Four Live Online Classes w/ recordings
Private Facebook Community

LEVEL 2 – SOLD OUT

SCRIPT CONSULT INCLUDED – ONLY 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE
Pitch Your Concept During Live Online Class
Digital Story Instruction
1-Hour Script Consult with Jen Grisanti
Breakdowns & Formulas
Four Live Online Classes w/ recordings
Private Facebook Community

LEVEL 3 – SOLD OUT

3 COACHING CONSULTS INCLUDED – ONLY 5 SPOTS AVAILABLE
Pitch Your Concept During Live Online Class
Digital Story Instruction
Three 1-Hour One-On-One Coaching Consults with Jen
Breakdowns & Formulas
Four Live Online Classes w/recordings
Private Facebook Community

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE LIVE ONLINE PORTION
Five participants per week will get to rotate in from the different levels. You will get 10 minutes to discuss your concept when you rotate in. You can start with where you are struggling. You can discuss it in the components from my Story Worksheet. You can also pitch it if this is your preference. I have a pitch formula for the story modules.

INTERVIEWS ABOUT THE COURSE

Story Therapy: From Resistance to Freedom *FREE* Webinar
2024-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
⇓ REPLAY: FREE WEBINAR ⇓

⇑ REPLAY: FREE WEBINAR ⇑
SIX-WEEK TELESEMINAR COURSE
Story Therapy: From Resistance to Freedom FREE WEBINAR
Story Therapy: From Resistance to Freedom includes the digital course and the live online teleseminar. The course consists of story instruction videos with story tools, complete breakdowns for eight shows, handouts, and video clips where I illustrate the story tools. I will also include a breakdown of one feature film. This digital course leads into my live online six-week Story Therapy Teleseminar, which starts March 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. PT online. It goes through April 16, 2024. We will be off on Tuesday, which falls on Easter, April 2, 2024.
LIST OF THE EIGHT SHOWS

THE DIPLOMAT
BEEF
WEDNESDAY
BAD SISTERS
DAISY JONES & THE SIX
TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
SHRINKING
SLOW HORSES

FEATURE

PAST LIVES

The Story Therapy Teleseminar starts on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, and goes through April 16, 2024 (There is a break during the week of Easter). This seminar is a live and interactive event that includes story instruction, script notes for Level 3, pitching, and an opportunity to get feedback from top working TV writers.
Classes begin on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 pm PST ONLINE.
Each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will review the notes for the four writers. You will be able to read their scripts and make notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. It is a way to prepare you for the writers’ room. Five people will sign up each week and get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. All levels are eligible. This part of the program will help you learn from others’ pitching styles and allow you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. With the 150 writers who participated last year, there was a tremendous opportunity to connect with a writers’ community. You will learn all the story tools you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in this private community of writers. This community is a precious resource. In it, you can exchange scripts, find accountability partners, form writer groups, and create friendships with writers worldwide. I’ve seen the success of this course first-hand. Many writers who have taken this course have gone on to sell pilots and features, get staffed on TV shows, and get into several prestigious writing programs. To date, 107 have been sold by the writers I’ve worked with. Below are the levels available for this event’s six-week live online portion. Each level adds more to the experience.
The opportunity to participate in this experience will be available during my launch.
LEVEL 1
This includes story instruction modules, six online classes, and the opportunity to pitch to my guest speakers and turn in a 3–5-page pitch document for feedback.

You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 3/5/24 at 7:00 pm PT.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
You can sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers.
You will also get to turn in a 3–5-page pitch document on your TV spec, TV pilot, or feature and receive written feedback. After the course ends, you must turn this in for up to a year. This includes a 20-minute meeting to go over the notes.

LEVEL 2
Includes story instruction modules, six online classes, the opportunity to pitch, a one-on-one Concept Brainstorming Session, TV Pilot Consult, and LIVE FEEDBACK for ONE of the six classes.
(ONLY 10 SLOTS)

You will also rotate for one of the six weeks to receive feedback on your TV pilot. This level includes a one-on-one consult, a 30-minute Concept Session, receiving written and verbal feedback, and a call recording.
You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 3/5/24 at 7:00 pm PT.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
You will also get to choose which guest speaker they want to pitch.

LEVEL 3
Includes story instruction modules, six online classes, the opportunity to pitch, rotating in for LIVE FEEDBACK during three of the six weeks, and FOUR coaching consults.
(ONLY 4 SLOTS)

With Level 3, you will get feedback on your TV pilot script during three of the six classes. This level includes written and verbal feedback. At this level, you are participating like you are in a writing program.
This level includes four one-on-one coaching consults and rotating in for the six-week teleseminar.
You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 3/5/24 at 7:00 pm PT.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
Level 3 will get to choose which guest speaker they want to pitch.

GUEST SPEAKERS

MARK GOFFMAN
Mark Goffman is currently executive producer and writer for the NBC series, THE IRRATIONAL. Before this, he was an executive producer and writer on the Netflix series THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY. Goffman also executive produced and was a showrunner on the hit series BULL on CBS and SLEEPY HOLLOW on Fox. He served as an executive producer and writer for LIMITLESS on CBS and USA’s WHITE COLLAR. Goffman first started on THE WEST WING, where he wrote for several seasons. Afterward, Goffman ran the writers’ room for Aaron Sorkin’s STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, also on NBC. Goffman has worked on over 200 hours of scripted television, been nominated for two Writers Guild Awards, and won the Entertainment Industries Council SET Award. An episode he wrote of LAW & ORDER: SVU garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Mariska Hargitay. Goffman’s feature directorial debut is DUMBSTRUCK, a documentary about ventriloquists, theatrically released by Magnolia Pictures. Goffman began his career as a writer in Brussels for the magazine Commerce in Belgium. He has a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, wrote speeches for state and federally elected officials, consulted to the U.S. military, Intelligence, Department of State and White House. Goffman has a B.A. from Emory University in Economics and Philosophy and served as a Masters Thesis Adviser, Fiction Writing Program, at Johns Hopkins University. His first play, ME TOO, has run in Los Angeles and Indianapolis.

LINDSAY GOFFMAN
Lindsay is the founder of Gratitude Production, with projects in collaboration with major companies such as Apple, FX, Amazon Freevee, Perfect Storm, The Roots, Day Zero, Get Lifted, Jon M. Chu, MGM, and Universal Television. Her recent accomplishments include producing “THE COMPANY YOU KEEP,” a series based on a Korean format, which premiered to rave reviews and is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Previously, Lindsay championed the hit series THE GOOD DOCTOR after discovering the Korean format early on. The show became ABC’s #1 new series and was awarded the Humanitas Prize. Lindsay actively contributes to various arts and entertainment organizations, mentors the Hollywood Radio and Television Society, serves on the board of the Creative Coalition, and participates in the Media Xchange. Lindsay’s advisory roles include Girls Inc. and One Hope Wine, a purpose-driven community, and she judges at renowned events like the Austin Film Festival and the UCLA Screenwriter Showcase. Her work has been recognized with awards, including the 2022 Anthem Award, and she was nominated for the LA Business Journal’s Women Leadership Award in 2023.

JAVIER GRILLO MARXUACH
Javier “Javi” Grillo-Marxuach is one of the Emmy Award-winning producers of Lost and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and is currently Executive Producer of the hit Netflix series The Witcher. His work includes stints as writer/producer on From, Cowboy Bebop, Blood and Treasure, Raising Dion, The 100, Medium, Boomtown, and the original Charmed. An advocate of mentorship and education, Grillo-Marxuach and his family have granted scholarships for writers at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and the Creative Writing program at Carnegie Mellon University, and he is co-host and co-creator of the Children of Tendu podcast, an educational series for aspiring television writers. Javi is Puerto Rican; his name is pronounced: “HA-VEE-AIR GREE-JOE MARKS-WATCH.”

BRANDON MARGOLIS AND BRANDON SONNIER
Brandon Margolis and Brandon Sonnier are a writing/producing team who served as Creators/ Showrunners of the BAD BOYS spinoff series L.A.’S FINEST starring Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba. The Brandons started in the prestigious NBC/Universal Writers On The Verge program. They went on to rise through the ranks for five seasons on Sony/NBC’s hit drama series THE BLACKLIST while developing multiple Cable and Network TV pilots. Most recently, the Brandons served as Co-Executive Producers on season 6 of CBS’s SWAT and Executive Producers on season 2 of ALERT on FOX.

AUDREY KNOX
Audrey Knox is a Literary Manager at Cartel Entertainment. I have clients in film and television, among whom are writers staffed on SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, GINNY & GEORGIA, and P-VALLEY and are writing for Disney, Netflix, Nickelodeon, and Hallmark. I am an Associate Producer of the Tubi feature film CRUSHED, written by my client Heidi Lux. My client Alanna Francis’ feature ALICE, DARLING, recently premiered at TIFF to rave reviews. I have experience in scripted and unscripted television, on-set, production, and writers’ rooms.

MATTHEW SALSBERG
Matthew Salsberg is a television writer and producer from Montreal, Canada, who resides in Los Angeles. His writing career began in 1998 with “The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo.” From 1999-2001, he was an Executive Story Editor on “Big Wolf On Campus,” for which he was nominated for a Gemini Award (Canadian Emmy) for Best Writing in a Youth Series. He then went on to staff in 2002 to the NBC series “The Jake Effect” and the 2003 CBS Comedy “The Stones.” In 2003, he sold three stories to season 3 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and the Pilot “Doorman” to NBC with Broadway Video. In 2004, he was a co-producer on “Entourage”. From 2005-2012, he was a producer, supervising producer, co-executive producer, and Executive Producer on “Weeds”. In 2007, he wrote, and EP’d the pilot “Me and Lee” for Fox. He was under an overall deal at Lionsgate Television from 2009-2012. In 2011, he wrote the pilot “Whales” for Showtime. In 2014, he wrote the pilot “Fantasyland” for Amazon Studios. In 2015, he was the EP and pilot writer for HBO’s “Wilderness,” co-created with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. In 2017, he was a co-ep on “The Untitled Josh Brolin Project” for WHIP studios. In 2019, he was a Consulting Producer on Showtimes “Kidding”. In 2021/2022, he was a co-executive producer on Matthew Weiner’s Untitled Project for FX and sold the pilot “Almost Friends” to Netflix. Additionally, in 2012/2013, he won the World Poker Tour Season 11’s Player of the Year.

JIM ADLER
Jim Adler was born in Miami to a family of Cuban/Honduran immigrants on one side and Mid-Western transplants on the other. He was raised in a bilingual household and spent his childhood summers with family in Honduras. When Jim was 7, his mother moved them to California to live in a new age ashram, part of a religious cult. Having begun college as an electrical engineer, he has a deep interest in science and technology. Jim curates a web group devoted to unusual crime stories, has a passion for espionage, and worries a lot about climate change. He was most recently a Co-EP on THE GOOD DOCTOR (ABC/Sony Pictures TV) and worked prior to that on MACGYVER, CASTLE, and also developed a horror pilot for Starz. He is an active member of the WGA’s Latinx Writers Committee and is fluent in Spanish.

Story Therapy: From Resistance to Freedom Course
2024-03-05 19:00 - 2024-04-16 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Story Therapy: From Resistance to Freedom includes the digital course and the live online teleseminar. The course consists of story instruction videos with story tools, complete breakdowns for eight shows, handouts, and video clips where I illustrate the story tools. I will also include a breakdown of one feature film. This digital course leads into my live online six-week Story Therapy Teleseminar, which starts March 5, 2024, at 7:00 pm P.T. online. It goes through April 16, 2024. We will be off on Tuesday, which falls on Easter, April 2, 2024.
LIST OF THE EIGHT SHOWS

THE DIPLOMAT
BEEF
WEDNESDAY
BAD SISTERS
DAISY JONES AND THE SIX
TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
SHRINKING
SLOW HORSES

FEATURE

PAST LIVES

The Story Therapy Teleseminar starts on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, and goes through April 16, 2024 (There is a break during the week of Easter). This seminar is a live and interactive event that includes story instruction, script notes for Level 3, pitching, and an opportunity to get feedback from top working T.V. writers.
Classes begin on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 pm PST ONLINE.
Each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will review the notes for two to four writers. You will be able to read their scripts and make notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. It is a way to prepare you for the writers’ room. Five people will sign up each week and get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. All levels are eligible. This part of the program will help you learn from others’ pitching styles and allow you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. You will learn all the story tools you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in this private community of writers. This community is a precious resource. In it, you can exchange scripts, find accountability partners, form writer groups, and create friendships with writers worldwide. I’ve seen the success of this course first-hand. Many writers who have taken this course have gone on to sell pilots and features, get staffed on TV shows, and get into several prestigious writing programs. To date, 112 pilots have been sold by the writers I’ve worked with. Below are the levels available for this event’s six-week live online portion. Each level adds more to the experience.
LEVEL 1
This includes story instruction modules, six online classes, and the opportunity to pitch to my guest speakers and turn in a 3–5-page pitch document for feedback.

You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 3/5/24 at 7:00 pm P.T.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
You can sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers.
You will also get to turn in a 3–5-page pitch document on your T.V. spec, T.V. pilot, or feature and receive written feedback. After the course ends, you must turn this in for up to a year. This includes a 20-minute meeting to go over the notes.

RATES – LEVEL 1
$597.00 (REGULAR RATE)

$397.00 (ALUMS RATE)

LEVEL 2
Includes story instruction modules, six online classes, the opportunity to pitch, a one-on-one half-hour Concept Brainstorming Session, TV Pilot Consult (with me), and LIVE FEEDBACK for ONE of the six classes.
* If you want to do Level 2 with a feature script, please email me at jen@jengrisanti.com, and I will send you a link with the additional fee.
(ONLY 10 SLOTS)

You will also rotate for one of the six weeks to receive feedback on your T.V. pilot. This level includes a one-on-one script consult, a half-hour brainstorming concept session, receiving written and verbal feedback, and a call recording.
You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 3/5/24 at 7:00 pm P.T.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
You will also get to choose which guest speaker they want to pitch.

RATES – LEVEL 2
$1,675.00 (REGULAR RATE)

$997.00 (ALUMS RATE)

LEVEL 3
Includes story instruction modules, six online classes, the opportunity to pitch, rotating in for LIVE FEEDBACK during three of the six weeks, and FOUR coaching consults.
(ONLY 4 SLOTS)

With Level 3, you will get feedback on your T.V. pilot script during three of the six classes. This level includes written and verbal feedback. At this level, you are participating like you are in a writing program.
This level includes four one-on-one coaching consults with me.
You get the story instruction modules for Story Therapy. You will have access to these modules for one year from the date of purchase.
You can participate in all six online classes starting 3/5/24 at 7:00 pm P.T.
You will receive a recording of the classes.
Level 3 will get to choose which guest speaker they want to pitch.

RATES – LEVEL 3
$3,997.00 (REGULAR RATE)

$3,397.00 (ALUMS RATE)

GUEST SPEAKERS

MARK GOFFMAN
Mark Goffman is currently executive producer and writer for the NBC series THE IRRATIONAL. Before this, he was an executive producer and writer on the Netflix series THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY. Goffman also executive produced and was a showrunner on the hit series BULL on CBS and SLEEPY HOLLOW on Fox. He served as an executive producer and writer for LIMITLESS on CBS and USA’s WHITE COLLAR. Goffman first started on THE WEST WING, where he wrote for several seasons. Afterward, Goffman ran the writers’ room for Aaron Sorkin’s STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, also on NBC. Goffman has worked on over 200 hours of scripted television, been nominated for two Writers Guild Awards, and won the Entertainment Industries Council SET Award. An episode he wrote of LAW & ORDER: SVU garnered Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Mariska Hargitay. Goffman’s feature directorial debut is DUMBSTRUCK, a documentary about ventriloquists, theatrically released by Magnolia Pictures. Goffman began his career as a writer in Brussels for the magazine Commerce in Belgium. He has a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, wrote speeches for state and federally elected officials, consulted to the U.S. military, Intelligence, Department of State and White House. Goffman has a B.A. from Emory University in Economics and Philosophy and served as a Masters Thesis Adviser, Fiction Writing Program, at Johns Hopkins University. His first play, ME TOO, has run in Los Angeles and Indianapolis.

LINDSAY GOFFMAN
Lindsay is the founder of Gratitude Production, with projects in collaboration with major companies such as Apple, F.X., Amazon Freevee, Perfect Storm, The Roots, Day Zero, Get Lifted, Jon M. Chu, MGM, and Universal Television. Her recent accomplishments include producing “THE COMPANY YOU KEEP,” a series based on a Korean format, which premiered to rave reviews and is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Previously, Lindsay championed the hit series THE GOOD DOCTOR after discovering the Korean format early on. The show became ABC’s #1 new series and was awarded the Humanitas Prize. Lindsay actively contributes to various arts and entertainment organizations, mentors the Hollywood Radio and Television Society, serves on the board of the Creative Coalition, and participates in the Media Xchange. Lindsay’s advisory roles include Girls Inc. and One Hope Wine, a purpose-driven community, and she judges at renowned events like the Austin Film Festival and the UCLA Screenwriter Showcase. Her work has been recognized with awards, including the 2022 Anthem Award, and she was nominated for the L.A. Business Journal’s Women Leadership Award in 2023.

JAVIER GRILLO MARXUACH
Javier “Javi” Grillo-Marxuach is one of the Emmy Award-winning producers of Lost and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and is currently Executive Producer of the hit Netflix series The Witcher. His work includes stints as writer/producer on From, Cowboy Bebop, Blood and Treasure, Raising Dion, The 100, Medium, Boomtown, and the original Charmed. An advocate of mentorship and education, Grillo-Marxuach and his family have granted scholarships for writers at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and the Creative Writing program at Carnegie Mellon University, and he is co-host and co-creator of the Children of Tendu podcast, an educational series for aspiring television writers. Javi is Puerto Rican; his name is pronounced: “HA-VEE-AIR GREE-JOE MARKS-WATCH.”

BRANDON MARGOLIS AND BRANDON SONNIER
Brandon Margolis and Brandon Sonnier are a writing/producing team who served as Creators/ Showrunners of the BAD BOYS spinoff series L.A.’S FINEST starring Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba. The Brandons started in the prestigious NBC/Universal Writers On The Verge program. They went on to rise through the ranks for five seasons on Sony/NBC’s hit drama series THE BLACKLIST while developing multiple Cable and Network T.V. pilots. Most recently, the Brandons served as Co-Executive Producers on season 6 of CBS’s SWAT and Executive Producers on season 2 of ALERT on FOX.

AUDREY KNOX
Audrey Knox is a Literary Manager at Cartel Entertainment. I have clients in film and television, among whom are writers staffed on SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, GINNY & GEORGIA, and P-VALLEY and are writing for Disney, Netflix, Nickelodeon, and Hallmark. I am an Associate Producer of the Tubi feature film CRUSHED, written by my client Heidi Lux. My client Alanna Francis’ feature ALICE, DARLING, recently premiered at TIFF to rave reviews. I have experience in scripted and unscripted television, on-set, production, and writers’ rooms.

MATTHEW SALSBERG
Matthew Salsberg is a television writer and producer from Montreal, Canada, who resides in Los Angeles. His writing career began in 1998 with “The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo.” From 1999-2001, he was an Executive Story Editor on “Big Wolf On Campus,” for which he was nominated for a Gemini Award (Canadian Emmy) for Best Writing in a Youth Series. He then went on to staff in 2002 to the NBC series “The Jake Effect” and the 2003 CBS Comedy “The Stones.” In 2003, he sold three stories to season 3 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and the Pilot “Doorman” to NBC with Broadway Video. In 2004, he was a co-producer on “Entourage”. From 2005-2012, he was a producer, supervising producer, co-executive producer, and Executive Producer on “Weeds”. In 2007, he wrote and E.P.’d the pilot “Me and Lee” for Fox. He was under an overall deal at Lionsgate Television from 2009-2012. In 2011, he wrote the pilot “Whales” for Showtime. In 2014, he wrote the pilot “Fantasyland” for Amazon Studios. In 2015, he was the E.P. and pilot writer for HBO’s “Wilderness,” co-created with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. In 2017, he was a co-ep on “The Untitled Josh Brolin Project” for WHIP studios. In 2019, he was a Consulting Producer on Showtimes “Kidding”. In 2021/2022, he was a co-executive producer on Matthew Weiner’s Untitled Project for F.X. and sold the pilot “Almost Friends” to Netflix. Additionally, in 2012/2013, he won the World Poker Tour Season 11’s Player of the Year.

JIM ADLER
Jim Adler was born in Miami to a family of Cuban/Honduran immigrants on one side and Mid-Western transplants on the other. He was raised in a bilingual household and spent his childhood summers with family in Honduras. When Jim was 7, his mother moved them to California to live in a new age ashram, part of a religious cult. Having begun college as an electrical engineer, he has a deep interest in science and technology. Jim curates a web group devoted to unusual crime stories, has a passion for espionage, and worries a lot about climate change. He was most recently a Co-EP on THE GOOD DOCTOR (ABC/Sony Pictures T.V.) and worked prior to that on MACGYVER and CASTLE, and he also developed a horror pilot for Starz. He is an active member of the WGA’s Latinx Writers Committee and is fluent in Spanish.

The Good Word Writer's Retreat
2024-05-28 - 2024-06-03
A RETREAT CREATED BY A WRITER FOR WRITERS

May 28 – June 3, 2024
PATMOS

A retreat that schedules time for you to write! A minimum of 3 consecutive hours a day dedicated to your writing, with no scheduled activities.

SIX NIGHTS SURROUNDED BY LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS IN THE SEASIDE OASIS, THAT IS PATMOS, GREECE
***
TWO AND A HALF HOURS OF PRIVATE ONE ON ONE TIME WITH YOUR MENTOR IN ADDITION TO DAILY GROUP SESSIONS PLUS NOTES
***
A CHOICE TO STUDY WITH A MENTOR AND POLISH AND REWRITE
OR
A CHOICE TO FILM A SCENE FROM YOUR PROJECT WITH PROFESSIONAL ACTORS
***
AN ON-SITE FILM FESTIVAL TO SHARE YOUR PREVIOUS WORK WITH YOUR PEERS
***
A COLD READING OF YOUR PILOT OR FEATURE IN GREECE *
***
A FOLLOW UP READING OF YOUR PILOT OR FEATURE IN HOLLYWOOD, CA. *
***
A FOLLOW UP CHECK-IN, POST RETREAT WITH YOUR MENTOR
AND
BREAKFAST BUFFET AND DINNER DAILY
A WELCOME PARTY
A FAREWELL GALA
A SUNSET SAIL
A PRIVATE ON-LINE GROUP TO CONNECT
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
*may be limited to the first ten pages

Screenwriters Safari in South Africa
2024-09-25 - 2024-09-30
INSPIRED UNDER AFRICAN SKIES

Have you got something really fabulous to look forward to? 5 nights in luxury with Hollywood mentors on this Screenwriters Safari in South Africa. Breathe new life into your script. Book your spot with one of the 4 exceptional mentors. Only 16 spots available in total (4 per mentor).

Have a safari vacation of a lifetime while you network and learn from some of the most connected film and screenwriting professionals in Hollywood. Take your screenwriting career to the next level, and who knows where that next level may be! Learn more here!

Jen Grisanti

Joey Tuccio

Meg LeFauve

Javier Grillo-Marxuach
